Mike Reilly impresses in B.C. Lions' pre-season win over Saskatchewan

Mike Beamish, Vancouver Sun06.14.2012

B.C. Lions’ quarterback Mike Reilly rushes for a first down against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Arland Bruce, left, makes a reception for a first down as Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Tyron Brackenridge defends during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Nick Moore, right, catches a touchdown pass as Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Tristan Jackson, left, and Jalil Johnson watch during the second half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ David Veikune, left, grabs B.C. Lions’ quarterback Mike Reilly by his pants before he was sacked on the play by Chris Francis during the second half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Terrell Maze, right, knocks down a pass intended for B.C. Lions’ Courtney Taylor in the endzone during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Lin-J Shell, left, and Jason Arakgi, right, tackle Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Jock Sanders during the second half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback Darian Durant, left, is hit by B.C. Lions’ Anton McKenzie as he releases the ball for an incomplete pass during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ quarterback Travis Lulay passes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant is hit by B.C. Lions’ Anton McKenzie as he releases the ball for an incomplete pass during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Patrick Brown, 87, is tackled by B.C. Lions’ J.R. LaRose after making a reception during the second half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ head coach Corey Chamblin looks on from the sideline as his team plays the B.C. Lions during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

A mascot stands with B.C. Lions cheerleaders before the start of a pre-season CFL football game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Nick Moore, left, and Tim Cronk celebrate Moore’s touchdown against the Saskatchewan Roughriders during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Courtney Taylor, left, gets his hand in the face of Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Terrell Maze after Maze knocked down a pass intended for Taylor during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Terrell Maze, right, knocks down a pass intended for B.C. Lions’ Courtney Taylor in the endzone during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

B.C. Lions’ Nick Moore, right, catches a pass for a touchdown as Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Eddie Russ defends during the first half of a pre-season CFL football game in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday June 13, 2012.DARRYL DYCK
/ THE CANADIAN PRESS

VANCOUVER — A year has passed since B.C. Lions fans saw Mike Reilly look this good. The team's third-string quarterback performed like a starter in warmup games before the 2011 CFL season, and, apparently, not much has changed.

In his debut performance of 2012, the former Central Washington Wildcat threw three touchdown passes as the Lions cruised to an easy 44-10 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a CFL preseason game Wednesday night at B.C. Place.

The Lions got another touchdown, early in the third quarter, from another ex-Wildcat, linebacker Adam Bighill, a player Reilly recommended to the team last season.

Bighill stepped in front of a pass by Levi Brown, the third of four Saskatchewan quarterbacks to take snaps, and rambled 45 yards to the end zone to put the Lions ahead 27-3.

"Mike did put a bug in the club's ear about me," Bighill said. "I played with him for a couple of years. So he and I know a lot about each other. I know what he's capable of. People are surprised he can run so well. I'm not. People are surprised hje throws so many touchdowns on point. I'm not. He broke all of [ex-NFL and former Wildcat quarterback] Jon Kitna's records. It doesn't matter if it's Division II or not. He can play."

Following Bighill's touchdown, Reilly then took the Lions on a nine-play, 98-yard drive, which he finished off by gunning a pass to Nick Moore in the end zone to complete a 30-yard play. His final totals read: 16 completions on 24 attempts for 189 yards, three scores.

Reilly left the game in favour of Lions third-string quarterback Thomas DeMarco, but came on again in the final minute in a bizarre sequence that saw Reilly hand off to running back Andrew Harris for a three-yard touchdown, just after DeMarco set up the score with a 20-yard pass to rookie receiver Ernest Jackson.

Lions GM Wally Buono likes to say that Reilly has had added "another dimension" to his game this season. "He moves very well. He's a lot more active, a lot more mobile than you think," Buono said. "It takes football very seriously, and he loves it."

The 'Riders saw evidence of Reilly's mobility, as the Lions quarterback ran for 58 yards on seven carries, one of them a 30-yard gallop on third down to set up a touchdown. He moved well in the pocket, evaded the rush dextrously and seemed to know exactly what he was doing, save for a couple of underthrown passes.

Two of his better passes, however, went to Moore, who has a reputation for being a great practice player, but missing in action when the games count for something. Moore earned a starting spot coming out of training camp last season, yet he dropped two potential touchdown passes in the season opener against Montreal and quickly played himself into a spare body.

Last night, however, Moore continued to perform as he has in training camp this year -- superbly. He blew by his defender on man-to-man coverage for his second touchdown and looks to be making a concerted bid to maintain a roster spot, despite a challenge by former Seattle Seahawk wide receiver Courtney Taylor.

On his first score, Moore hauled in Reilly's pass despite being blanketed by a Saskatchewan defender as the Lions quarterback threaded the ball perfectly to his receiver.

Make no mistake, Reilly still has the funky delivery Lions fans might remember from a year ago, a jerky throwing motion which begins by cocking the ball to the earhole before it's unleashed.

Hardly textbook or prototypical, a reason why Reilly passed through the camps of four NFL teams before landing with the Lions.

Buono, though, insists Reilly has "the it factor", a reason he made the decision to jettison Lulay's security blanket, Jarious Jackson, and promote Reilly to the designated backup role in February.

"He's got the presence, the composure and the intellect to be a quarterback," said Buono of Reilly. "He's just got to be given more opportunities to build up his skill set."

Lulay had seven completions on 11 pass attempts for 72 yards in his only quarter of work, taking the Lions 57 yards on their first offensive series which led to a 20-yard Paul McCallum field goal. He overthrew Shawn Gore in the end zone another time, just before McCallum kicked a 29-yarder to put the Lions ahead 6-0.

McCallum added his third field goal of the game -- from 44 yards away -- in the fourth quarter, when DeMarco was in control.

A 47-yard field goal by Chris Milo and a three-yard touchdown pass from Drew Willy to Jason Cherry accounted for the Roughriders' scoring.

The Lions return to Kamloops for another week of training camp before flying to Edmonton for their second preseason game next Thursday. They open the regular season June 29 at B.C. Place against Winnipeg.

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Mike Reilly impresses in B.C. Lions' pre-season win over Saskatchewan

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